Quick Answer
Yes, there are blue herons found in England. The most common species is the grey heron (Ardea cinerea). While not technically “blue”, grey herons have a blue-grey plumage and long neck that gives them a similar appearance to the more familiar North American great blue heron. Grey herons can be found throughout England, often seen standing motionless along riverbanks and estuaries waiting to strike at fish.
Background on Blue Herons
Blue herons refer to several species of long-legged wading birds in the family Ardeidae that have blue-grey plumage. Some of the most well known blue heron species include:
- Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) – Found throughout much of North America
- Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) – Found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa
- Little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) – Found in coastal regions of the Southeastern U.S. and Caribbean
- Cocoi heron (Ardea cocoi) – Found in South America
These species all share a similar appearance with long legs, elongated neck, dagger-like bill, and blue-grey feathers. The coloration of their plumage can vary from dark grey to light blue or nearly white depending on age and season.
While called “blue”, many heron species are more accurately a blue-grey color. The great blue heron is one of the more blue-colored species, particularly during breeding season.
Herons are carnivorous birds that live and feed primarily in wetland habitats like marshes, streams, ponds and shorelines. Their diet consists mainly of small fish, frogs, aquatic insects and other small animals.
Habits and Habitat
Herons can most often be seen wading slowly through shallow water or standing motionless for long periods as they wait to ambush prey. They will strike rapidly with their sharp bill when prey approaches within range.
Most species nest high up in trees near water in large colonies called heronries. Nests are large platforms of sticks and twigs. Parent birds strongly defend nesting areas from predators.
Grey Herons in England
The grey heron is the most common heron species found throughout England, as well as elsewhere in Europe, Asia and Africa.
As their name suggests, grey herons have grey-blue plumage on their head, wings and back. Their underside is pale grey or nearly white. While not as blue as the great blue heron, their coloration is very similar.
Other distinctive features are its black stripe over the eye and very long grey legs and neck. Grey herons reach nearly 1 meter (3 feet) in height with a 1.5-2 meter wingspan (up to 6 feet).
Habitat and Distribution
Grey herons can be found near any water source in England including along the coasts, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes and wetlands. They thrive around estuaries and along slow moving rivers where fish are abundant.
While widespread, they are most abundant in southern and eastern England. However, their numbers increased greatly during the 20th century allowing the birds to expand their range north and west across the country.
Today, England holds an estimated population of around 10,000 breeding pairs of grey herons. They are widespread and common enough that they can even be spotted in city parks and urban waterways.
Behavior
Grey herons employ a patient hunting strategy, standing motionless in shallow water for long periods as they wait for prey to come within striking distance of their sharp bill. Small fish such as roach, eels, perch and sticklebacks make up the bulk of their diet. They will also prey on frogs, newts, insects, voles and other small aquatic animals.
During breeding season, grey herons will nest in large heronries, often high up in the tops of tall trees close to foraging areas. Nests are platforms of large sticks, often reused year after year. These nesting colonies can include hundreds of nesting pairs in close proximity.
Both the male and female share in incubating a typical clutch of 3-5 eggs for approximately 25 days until hatching. Parent birds will feed the young at the nest for the first 50-60 days of life. After fledging and leaving the nest, young herons are dependent on their parents for another 3-4 weeks as they learn to hunt on their own.
Conservation Status
While still relatively common, grey heron populations declined in parts of Europe early in the 20th century as a result of habitat loss and human persecution. However the ban on persistent pesticides allowed them to bounce back in range and numbers, particularly in England.
Today, the grey heron is classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List with an estimated global population of 460,000 to 1.2 million individuals. As adaptable birds tolerant of human activity, they remain widespread and thrive across England today.
Other Heron Species in England
Little Egret
The little egret is a relatively new breeding species in England that only first appeared in significant numbers in the late 1990s. It has snowy white plumage unlike the blue-grey herons.
As a European species, it quickly established breeding colonies in southern England and has since expanded its range northward reaching as far as Yorkshire. Little egrets remain far less common than grey herons in England but their numbers continue to increase.
Great White Egret
Larger than the little egret, the great white egret was first spotted breeding in England in 2012. However, only a handful of breeding pairs have been observed so far, predominantly in Somerset and Devon. Sightings elsewhere may involve vagrant individuals outside their normal continental range.
Cattle Egret
Originally an African species, cattle egrets first expanded into Spain and Portugal in the 1940s. Small but growing numbers now breed in England after first appearing in the late 1980s. Today they breed mainly on the south and east coasts in small colonies of less than 50 pairs.
Purple Heron
The Eurasian purple heron is an extremely rare vagrant in England. One or two individuals are spotted most years, predominantly in southern regions during late summer. But attempted breeding has only been recorded on a couple of occasions.
Squacco Heron
This small heron is a rare spring and summer visitor to England, predominantly along southern coasts. It has bred only a handful of times in small reed beds. Less than 10 individuals are typically reported in the UK annually.
Key Facts About Blue Herons in England
Blue Heron Species | Range in England | Population Estimate | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|---|
Grey Heron | Widespread | ~10,000 breeding pairs | Least Concern |
Little Egret | South and spreading north | ~700 breeding pairs | Least Concern |
Great White Egret | Rare breeder, Devon & Somerset | ~5 breeding pairs | Least Concern |
Cattle Egret | Rare breeder, south & east coasts | <50 breeding pairs | Least Concern |
Purple Heron | Rare vagrant | No breeding population | Least Concern |
Squacco Heron | Rare vagrant | No breeding population | Least Concern |
Conclusion
In summary, while no true blue herons are native to England, the common grey heron fills an equivalent ecological niche. Its blue-grey plumage and large size make it the closest match to the blue herons of North America.
Grey herons are found year-round throughout England hunting fish in streams, rivers, ponds and marshes. Their numbers and range increased greatly during the 20th century as legal protection allowed them to recover from previous persecution. Several smaller white heron species such as egrets and bitterns have also established recent breeding populations in England.
Sightings of other blue and purple herons such as the purple heron remain very rare in England, predominantly involving vagrant individuals well outside their normal continental ranges. Only the grey heron maintains a well-established breeding population counted in the thousands of pairs scattered across suitable wetland habitats countrywide.
So while not home to the same diversity of blue heron species found in North America, regions like the southern United States, the common grey heron does provide England with its very own native blue heron inhabiting a similar wetland niche. Their iconic large blue-grey profiles will likely continue to thrive as adaptable wetland birds suited to life alongside human activity.